Government Approves €646 Million for Education Department Amid Deficit

The Government has approved an additional €646 million for the Department of Education this week, addressing a significant deficit. Minister for Education Hildegarde Naughton had previously confirmed a shortfall exceeding €500 million.

This €646 million will cover payroll, pensions, school transport, special education, and special needs assistants. Of this, €446 million will be contributed by other departments from their next year's budgets, with the remaining €200 million sourced from a contingency fund. The Department of Public Expenditure believes the lead-in time will allow departments to identify savings, with carveouts to protect areas like homelessness and frontline pay.

This new model, where other departments contribute to cover a deficit, will be used again if similar shortfalls arise. Minister Naughton had attributed the underfunding to issues present since she took office last November. Minister for Public Expenditure Jack Chambers had warned that increased education funding would limit resources for other departments, despite a 10 percent increase in education funding this year. The projected overspend in education is estimated between €600 million and €700 million this year. The Government has abolished the practice of supplementary estimates, contributing to the current funding impasse.